QuaD CannoN

i dunno what happened yesterday... t'was legs and lower back day.. i work my legs twice a week.. usually, the first is i do the whole nine yards.. quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves.. while the next legs day is like yesterday's.. just the quads and then i throw in some lower back exercises..

started with the front squat.. 1 set.. 2 sets.. etc..

on to my last set, my quads started to sore.. worked it last tuesday yet and yesterday's friday, but then it's still friggin' sore??

what the??

ok, so nothing i can do there, momma.. it's just it.. i'll roll with it. besides, it's the lower back that needs more attention..

went ahead doing back squat, deadlift, hyperextensions, good mornings, and that lower back machine..

done.

i'm losing motivation these days.. hitting the iron is like an ordeal - not something i look forward doing.. guess that cancelled week-off is the culprit.. i should seriously consider taking that.. maybe next month.

i'm usually raring to come back after a week off..

this, however, is exciting...



i'll be watching it on PPV...

Virgie

i feel bad for my yaya (nanny). she has breast cancer and she's been suffering from it for years now... it's beyond help. sigh.

she's been doing all that self-medication from herbal medicine to whatever it is that's being hyped up over the radio or TV... to no avail.

she's getting thinner by the day and in bed most of the time.

my heart was ready to explode yesterday when i called her up... she tried to keep things "normal" and still talk in high spirit.. of course, i know how bad her situation was and am just trying to put up a brave face in the midst of all her sufferings... i'm just not ready to concede that any day from now, she could be gone.. she's just the nicest person in the world to me.. so much nicer and kinder than my ma..

all my prayers to you, yaya...

***

meanwhile, i've been having this weird dizziness i dunno what the heck is going on.. kinda vertigo.. then felt some kinda pang of pain on my head every now and then.. i hate the thought of being sick in the head.. of all places, i'd rather that it ain't the head..

maybe this has something to do with all that holding my breath when i'm lifting.. ya know, like your head could burst for holding on too much air.. aaaawwwww!!!

so much for that head thing.

we die.. we die swingin'...

***

Neil just had his first boy scout camping.. gotta hand it to the kid.. he's just full of life.. so much excitement going on in him.

last night, he was all agog with the preparation. then this morning when i woke him up, he was just rolling around the bed, but when i mentioned he can't make it to the camping, he just jump right up and went to devour his breakfast.. next thing i know, he's all dressed up and good to go!

i wish i have the same energy and zest.

happy camping, kiddo!

40 winks comin' up...

take care, y'all!

balls to the walls

credit card companies are very good at enticing you.. ya know, tempt you to sign-up, loan or get that friggin' (scheming??) zero-interest mambo-jumbo.. then, they're at best when they start collecting... you gotta pay, homey!

my colleagues had been having a "ball" with credit cards issued to them left and right.. some didn't even have to apply, dayum! their personal infos had been sold and therefore spammed!

i on the other hand have to slow down with these things.. it kinda dawn into me i've been swiping more than i could even sneeze.. doesn't make sense, right? i figured you're smart enough to catch my drift.

so there. my officemate got a knock on her head when she realizes her bill had balloned like her fatass.. oh yeah!

we all need a li'l knock on the head sometimes... wake up call to be precise.

with the looming world crisis, we really can't go on a spending spree unless you've got lotsa money to spare or you're earning like a rocksta, eh?!

***

now on to my favorite topic...

i am now very strong with the parallel dips.. i'm surprise with myself too!

whilst it was a struggle before as i am, uhum, BIG for my own good, now i can push myself up with ease. guess you can call that progress, sweetheart.

i'm ripe for a new gym "tool." a dipping belt... i can do weighted dips.. weeeee!!!!

330 pounds of squat minus the olympic bar's weight is becoming easy.. i love it when people stare in disbelief.. not too many people in the gym can squat deep and heavy, so i guess i'm an exception.

my biceps, to borrow Ah-nod's words, are my mountain peak.. it means exactly that...

modesty aside, i believe i can only get better... in time.

'til then, mwah!

PAPER PLANES

just love MIA!

next phase

i'm BACK!

whoa!

i'm switching gear now.. keep my body, particularly the muscles guessing.. i'm doing pre-exhaust exercises.. though i'm still working on that 1-hour per session time frame, i might have to stretch it a bit.. i'm doing it so i don't have to worry about the next session... like if i'm too beaten to whip it up s'more.

if we're on the same page i'm guessing you dig this.. otherwise, "come in from dark..."

just remember one thing: this blog is BUGGED, dammit!!

can't spill everything here... so sorry dude.

now i'm tired eating chicken... i have to keep on changing my meal.. sweet potato, banana, brown rice, eggs, wheat bread.. then i have to get my protein fix at either A1 or at Miller Hospital.. one serves broth or grilled fish while the other specializes in soy.

nuff talk.

busting out.

Physick

"Sometimes I get the feeling the aspirin companies are sponsoring my headaches."

~V.L. Allineare

as promised, i went to, albeit shilly-shally, hit the iron today.

felt nauseous in between... damn!

just lift a little over half the weight of my PR's... better than nothing, i guess.

feels like i'm friggin' shrinking with those "off days" already, eh!



my target time of completion (which as y'all know had been an hour or less since, uhm, do some readback, well ya?) drag to almost two hours.. well, i needed to rest a little longer in between sets... i'm still trying to get my darn bearings after being sicko, smart-ass.

half way through i was ready to call it a day.. 'til i caught my second wind..

still and all, it wasn't great, alright. felt exhausted too early, had dizzying moments that i'm ready to pass out, but glad to pull it through.

i dunno what's causing this giddy feeling.. it's been days, man.. i hate it!

i guess i needed to be reminded i'm still HUMAN.

be well ALL.

it's the throat.. the culprit behind this sicko feeling.. i can feel it now.. however, the fever is gone, thank you.

anyhoo, hope to be back bangin' tomorrow wherein i plan to hit all bodypart.. it'll be wall-to-wall and ass-to-the-ground session.. i hope to finish it in an hour... else, a few minutes more shouldn't hurt.

so bored now.

GTG.

Sicko

i'm feeling that way.. it's weird.

you know, that feeling wherein you dunno what's going on inside your body, but you know something is not right.

good thing i'm gonna rest tomorrow... maybe at work too..

could be the weather.. the *argh* training.. or the after-workout showers.. y'know, that old wives tales that we shouldn't take a bath after a vigorous activity..

could be anything.

whatever it is, i hope it ain't too bad... "health is wealth..." my momma always told me that.

***

remember that colleague who was gonna "seriously" workout cos she's tired of all the teasing about being fatass and big eater?

she progressed a bit but came spiraling down months later.. she's been eating a lot and skipping the gym.. like almost everyday!

told ya.

you gotta be "all the way" when you do this stuff or else, forget about it..

i'm soooo not feeling well today.

be well.

Zero Hour

what was supposed to be a toned down session turn out to be intense.. dayum!

well, i know it's supposed to be my tapering-down week... so i gotta keep it cool..

memo to self: i'll keep that in mind.

yesterday i opted to stay home and play Generals Zero Hour. i'm playing the challenge mode.. i remembered playing it and setting the difficulty level to Hard year(s) ago... pretty much completed everything.. though not in flying colors but heck, felt good when it was all over.



when my PC came back to life a month ago, started playing it over again... i hit a snag on the last part... no matter what i do, i couldn't figure out how to beat my darn enemy... i kept trying week after week but no success.

i know i can beat her (a woman by the way.. Chinese to be exact). so yesterday i finally devise a plan - never give up and make sure i have plenty of resources..

after weathering all her attacks and making sure i have lotsa money to spend on weapons and upgrade, i finally hit pay dirt.

lesson learned: never give up.

and then make sure you've got lotsa money on hand (that keeps on coming) to spend... don't spend more than what you can earn.. don't swallow more than you can chew... lastly, no mercy!

there.

very applicable to real life, yeah, ése??

meanwhile, got no more shiz to tell other than say, hasta la vista, compañero 'y compañera!

Equality

what??

you got a problem with my stand?

here...



whatevs.

i don't think i'm gonna go rest for a week after this training cycle.. maybe just a few days off.. feel things out on how "run down" i am..

i'm still training like hell though.. gotta push it extra hard while i can, but just the same, practice caution... don't wanna go through joint pains EVER again.

i'm not breaking new PR's as of the moment.. can't progress all the time, hombre.

i'll slow down a bit next week but it'll be insane again after that... still 'strictly' on a one hour per session... i'd STOP even if i'm not done with my sets when my time's up.

besides, got a lot of shit sitting on my lap.. can't waste all my time lingerin' in the gym..

oh, i forgot to tell you i haven't tried "cutting" yet... i was gonna, but nah.

can't do.

i'm trying to work like a horse here.. no way i'm gonna eat like a rat.. na-ah!

maybe... just maybe.. next year before summer.. but that remains to be seen.

good news to my fans though.. ain't morbidly obese yet.. ha ha!

here's hoping to make the cut.

peace out.

No Way Never

what's with all this hullabaloo about "equal rights" and the right to get married even if you're both of frigging the same sex??

people people people....

get real pansies!!!!

worst of all, these movie stars, celebrities, icons and whatnot, who by the way are supposed to be our "role-model," are the ones doing it or pushing for same-sex marriage.. what the hell is happening with the world today, huh??!!

our moralities... values... beliefs...

all down the drain?

i better switch religion... like become a Muslim or something cos it's gone waaaaayy too liberated around here..

maybe become an Extremist.

God created Adam and Eve... not Steve..

you wanna be gay or lesbo, fine... getting married?

don't. push. it.

comprender?

Precision

time flies!

and i'm not even having fun, troll!

yay! it's crazy... it's just 6am earlier and now it's friggin' 9 and i haven't done anything 'productive' yet... suxx!

i learned a few things yesterday.. didn't went to the gym.. instead, i went on a reading rampage.. while on it, i interacted with someone whose an inspiration to the natural lifters and bodybuilding.

great learning... and great guy.

check him out HERE.

the dude shared his 'secrets' and was very generous with his training schemes.. very knowledgeable.. liked his precise approach to everything... down to the last details, mate.

tough act to follow.

what's even more amazing about this dude?

he's only in his early 20's... a very bright future is waiting ahead for this hommie..

anyhoo, not much to yak no more.. peace out.

The Dark Knight

want more, duh, stale?

a reaction to a movie this time.

what do you know, i just saw "The Dark Knight."

i know, i know... sooooo yesterday of me.. i'm not into movies these days no more... in case you've been to Mars.

damn, gotta agree with Robert Downey Jr here when he said,

"My whole thing is that that I saw 'The Dark Knight'. I feel like I'm dumb because I feel like I don't get how many things that are so smart. It's like a Ferrari engine of storytelling and script writing and I'm like, 'That's not my idea of what I want to see in a movie.' I loved 'The Prestige' but didn't understand 'The Dark Knight'. Didn't get it, still can't tell you what happened in the movie, what happened to the character and in the end they need him to be a bad guy. I'm like, 'I get it. This is so high brow and so f--king smart, I clearly need a college education to understand this movie.' You know what? F-ck DC comics. That's all I have to say and that's where I'm really coming from."

didn't get the friggin' movie either.

but yeah,



about it.

it's just a movie with all the high-tech gadgets and lotsa BAM!!

it's action-packed too!

Mr. O

everyone seems to be raving about him to be the next Mr. President... kinda late, but hey, better late than never, eh?!

so, congrats Mr. O

hope you'll do well with your promises to effect a "change."

a change that would make America come out from the crappers and help the rest of the world economy.

other than that, i couldn't stress myself with whatever problems you're about to inherit from your predecessor.. or my brain would explode!


***

another stale story to tell.. duh!

we had our Halloween Party last friday.. darn costume party is a pain in the arse, but we went ahead, anyhoo.

oh there was free beer! and did i mentioned our employer thought it'd be cool if we have a Funeral car as props?!

yeah, we did... the real deal, mate.

t'was a good timing since one famous Funeral parlor here had their Lincoln serviced in our dealership..



pictures were taken, alright.

heard about ORB?

creepy.

we had unlimited access to free beers as management decided we'd have kegs of 'em... must've been good tiding, eh?

i guess i'm just it: a bummer.

didn't have a glass, a shot or whatever whatchamacallit.

nada.

after feasting on some roasted meat, veggies and some sweets (no rice, by the way), stand by a tad then sneek my way out to hit the road.

guess i'm waaaaayy too over beer-y drinking nights these days, huh?!

you bet.

lets just say i'm getting better with the "change of scenery" thingy... it's all routine now to say "NO," "i'm done," "PASS," and that helluva excuses i can come up with to indulge in something no good.

meanwhile, it's rest from the gym today.

chillin.

gotta

i'm tired of writing... this crap right now, i just have to let it out.. so, bear with me.. you hear?

uhm, i mean, you read?

why i'm tired? well, i've been doin' a lot of work.. in the office and at the gym.. the office.. that's the easy part even though it's a li'l stressful.

in the gym however, i've pretty much turn up the heat... like in all corners, hombre!

one hour of bangin' ain't easy, tell ya that.

so i finally devise a way of limiting my time but at the same get as much volume in my workout as possible...

i've discovered H.I.T. the hard way.

instead of pyramiding the weights, after a brief warm-up, i start lifting from the top of my work set..

whoa! you should try it sometimes.

'strong guys' in the gym should be wary of me... they're strong, alright... but they're on roids!

at least, i know of some... i know the signs and symptoms of one who is on 'gear.'

i am a natural lifter.

i'm in route to eating 120 pounds of dumbbell... in time.

90 pounds is still tough... but months ago, 80 pounds was tough too!

now, they're not an 'enemy' no more..

someday, 90 pounds will be easier and it'll be my 'friend'... soon.

when that happens, i'm ready to move up the weight yet again.. mu ha ha ha!!!!


i caught Meo, the resident bodybuilder, peek at me whilst i eat those dumbbells... 30 pounds more Bubba and we'll be equal..

my squat is up, by the way... i got to 330 pounds earlier and that excludes the weight of the bar.

yay!

i'm a little upset, though... i didn't squat sooooo low like the guy below:



almost.

tired. bored.

and out.

Hamilton wins it

Dude finally nailed it this time... Congrats!

Happy Halloween

tomorrow, i will be "Adam" during our Halloween costume party..


go figure.


love listening to THIS station.. especially tomorrow.. try it.

T-Pain

argh!!!

my lower back is in pain...

i might have a slipped disk already.

nah... couldn't be.

what the hell did i do??


more on this...



later.

done.

what do you know... i knew i could do it.. i can smell it.. it's just around the corner..

90 pounds dumbbell bench press: check.

done deal.

i did it, hommie!

first i got it to four repetitions...

i figured, shoot, could be a fluke, y'know..

went back again just to be sure... and did five repetitions!!!

weeeeeee!!!!



next stop: 100 pounds.

this will take time.. yet again.

i'm not gonna make a fanciful forecast... i'll keep it real and simple.

i should hit 'em anytime come December.


well, that of course is possible if my shoulders and elbows won't nag me.. lately, i'm starting to feel a pinch of pang on both my elbows.. so, training smartly includes working out the rotator cuffs and warming up my elbows with some pushdowns before i do some major exercises.

this one hour per workout is definitely the way to go.. i should have listen before.. i'm too hard headed to think i'm "right" and feelin' "mr-know-it-all."

anyhoo, guess i need to do that.. to learn.

now that i tried it and know first hand, i can feel the difference..

still have plenty of energy now as i'm not wiped out.. makes me want to go to the gym even more... unlike before when it kinda scare the crap out of me... cos i'm still tired and on DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) from the previous session/s.

chillin' time....

pushing back

oh yeah....





even though my wallet's pretty loose these days (read: cash-strapped) at least, my shirt's tight.. wahehehe!!

yeah, i don't wanna read the news too.. only the good ones, i supposed.

what goes up.. must come down..

if you're down, there's no way to go but up..

life's a ball.

sometimes you're up... and sometimes you're down.

either way, we'll learn.. we'll get stronger.. we'll survive.

with so many people out there in the "land of milk and honey" losing their job, work doesn't seem to suck now, eh?

no, this ain't some kinda pep talk..

just sayin'..


i've got 7 days more to go to get to 90 pounds... i'm gonna go grind it 'til i hit it..

set this one on stone: i'll press the friggin' 90 before this month is over.

it's a deal.

exciter

i don't have much yadi-yada today... i'm still reelin' from all the workshit and yesterday's session.. that, besides i'm bored.

i got my home PC's video card fixed. can't afford a new one yet.. not on these times, especially when we've got a boatload of uncertainties hanging by... and personally, i'm just as in bad shape as Wall Street's.



no, it's not a joke.

it's been really busy this week, but am glad to have stick to the plan of spending just one hour sweating it up.. kinda missed a few workout but at least i'm not wiped out when it's over..

work?? hhhmmmmm... work SUCKS!!!

my psycho detector tells me a good friend of mine is coming home this weekend..

i'm excited.

haven't been hanging out for quite sometime now.. we'll see if the excitement translates into "fun" come party time...

'til then...

zit.

one hour

yep, i am now doin' a much needed, self-imposed and strictly one-hour-session-only in the gym.

no more wastin' time... i've read it like a million times already - that only within an hour you'll get the most optimal and efficient muscle building stimulation and, only in that period can you keep a leash the spike of stress hormone.. anything over, a plethora of cortisol release would go haywire.. i gotta listen to this folks.. after all, they're not called expert for nothing..

get in, get out.

that's my new motto now..

but there's a catch... i can't really say it here.. this blog is BUGGED!

dammit!!

anyhoo, it'll be better sessions ahead.. hopefully.

i'm keeping a tab -- like every minute so i could pace myself.. it's good.. i get to keep myself aware all the time.. sorta use my head a li'l bit more when i'm in the gym.. somehow, things had become mechanical.. gotta break free from the 'norm' and do something different..

meanwhile, work is getting crazier.. dunno how to explain it, but things just don't feel right..

wonder if it was even right from the get go - to begin with.

hhhmmmmmm... it's a wait and see situation..

bye now... take care then..

shoot!!!

or is it the other way around??

Funny

we could all use a good laugh..



bwehehehe!!!

i don't really have much to say right at this moment...

thus.

buckling down

i'm tired of being tired.

i mean, it's almost always a 'wipeout' session for me everytime i'm done in the gym... i know i should limit my time there.

i'm gonna revise my program starting next week.

i'm gonna start backing down on my training... been training smartly, but it ain't smart enough.. but i have to experiment to know where i hit or missed.

i don't have any joint pains right now.. that's a big improvement...

well, today i slowed down in the gym - purposely.

we'll see how this goes...



i'm craving for cashew nuts.

even-tempered

i'm getting a little impatient... i sooo wanna hit the darn 90 pounds dumbbell bench press this week.. but i might have to wear a helmet and a mouthpiece cos the damn weight could go crashing on my face if i mess it up.. i could squat 300 pounds, alright. however, i'm unimpressed.. people in the gym are starting to noticed me.. i'm earning my "stripes" slowly.. three plate on each side ain't fierce.. if i get it to four, i'd be totally happy and satisfied.

now, it would really get me "there" if i'm like others who do this thing in these order: lift, eat, sleep.. i would've gained lotsa strength, size and muscularity.

but nah, i'm no millionaire.. gotta bust my ass.. earn a living..

oh yeah, even with my current situation, i still beat a lot of younger guys who have plenty of time to sulk in the gym.. like for hours, momma!

even the resident bodybuilder 'lauded' me for my squat strength.. another PT told me, "sir, you might wanna wear a belt.. we have a serviceable belt for your safety and convenience.."

right.

like i don't have one.

only pussies wear belt, dimwit!

joke.


told him to chill.. got mine but i'm not at the point where i need one... at least, not yet.. wait 'til i get to the top.. livid and ready to pass out..


those "macho" boys are starting to nod at me.. sorta compliment, i guess..



usually they talk among themselves... and i really have no choice but to listen to those fags.. and why do you have to ask me why they're fags??

they're bunch of vain kids...

but as of late, i got a feeling they want me "IN."

one actually bade goodbye to me when he left the gym..

so yeah, i don't need to play "cool-cool" with these boys.. i just do what needs to be done... and if you do it with the best of your ability, some people would actually notice you.. and wants to be your friend!

it's the law of nature, hommie.

you try hard to be one of the pack, you'd end up looking needy.. clingy.

you just do what you do best, skip being trying-hard, then they'd most likely accept you for who you are.. not for what you're trying to be.. y'know, pretending.. putting a front.. an image...

of something you're NOT.


as i've said, i'm not there to make friends or being chummy with the oh-so-hot girls...

i have a mission.. wanna know?

man-up.. do some back reading now, eh?

well, i wouldn't mind having a few friends along the way.. and have some girls on my lap, too!




teee heeee!!!


offish.

the dreaded legs

man... i'm still wiped out from yesterday's session.. i'm gonna need over 40 winks so i could hit the gym later.. it's legs day.. weeeeee!!!!

but really, got some butterfly going around my stomach right at this very moment..

end.

Miller Hospital...

nice place....

talk about it more, later.

i've reached plateau... i'm stuck in a rut.. though i'm able to move 80 pounds using a 5X5 program, it's still a struggle.. i have to move it smooth and slick before i could up the poundages to, guess how heavy? 90 pounds, momma!

yep.

i have to be super sure and confident when the time comes.. anyway, time for my power nap..

tchau!

delts on fire!

tired.

yep, i'm on it again.. y'know, non-stop, wall-to-wall, no-holds-barred kinda arms training... i hate it.. just like front squat or anything about leg work.. i just hate everything about it.. i hate it when i'm already at the top of my work set during squat cos then i have to really hold my breath hard, otherwise, i could go spiralling downward right after un-racking the bar... that could spell disaster, but since i'm inside the cage (power rack), expect a huge "CLANG!!!" if things don't go as planned..

even though i hate the thought of it, i do it anyway... it's the result that i look forward to.. training the "big guns" before doing "cosmetic" stuffs is the way to go for me... thus, every time i start workin' out, i'd usually train the big muscle group then go on with the little ones.. right now, i'm possessed training my shoulders.. they've stand out all right but i want a nice, rounded shape on my delts... good thing about training smartly these days cos i can bump up my shoulder routine without worrying i'd injure 'em all over again..

so far, it's been fruitful.. however, i've got a feeling i'd burn out real soon if i keep doing circuit training... you're just totally wiped out when you're done..

gotta cycle this up or i'd go on an early "vacation" again...

anyhoo, gotta go... my buddy in London just got on Skype.. missed this dude.. we gotta talk.. err, chat.. later, alligators!




P.S.

she's got a nice, broad shoulders, dontchathink?

spiked

now that the gasoline prices had mellowed down, now comes the economy in danger of financial hurricane... how the hell it happened and why every country in the world seems to be in the crappers these days, your guess is as good as mine..

sucks, huh?

i don't wanna second guess.. besides, they can't even figure it out.. y'know, those think tanks, nerds, analyst and all of them up there... your leaders, ey?

looking at those images in the news of guys on the phone in the stock market arena.. stressed out and all, aarrrgghhhh!!! must be tough being on their shoes these days.. is that life for you, hommie??

count me out.

human we may be, but we're all tough build.. resilient.. survivor..

we'll weather this storm like we've always had..

shifting channel in a flicker...



my new gear would likely arrive next year... hu hu hu..

but at least, it will.

brother sent me a copy of the receipt and, he just received the items today.. weeee!!!

but he ain't sending 'em pronto... he'll tag 'em along sis' scheduled "gift-giving" package for us come November.. and that'll take 2 long months before it arrives here..

mood: happy and sad.

anyhoo, it's better to wait for something.. than wait for nothing, eh?

hello??? you there??


i'm still waiting....


chiao!

good riddance

this has got to be the most intense sessions i've ever had since i started lifting... not only that i'm able to focus more, thanks to Rey-less times in the gym, the ambiance, environment and the equipment i'm working on is right on the money!

what's Rey-less, you ask? that Mr. Know-It-All mate i had in my previous gym ---- i don't have to bear his antics anymore... all that teasing about me "being on ON roids," or that "i should join powerlifting meets," or "compete in a bodybuilding contest" bullshit had finally stop.. Rey is the only "big guy" around there and if he see's anyone catching up with him, he'd do anything to take you out of your game..

but he's not entirely an ass, though.. he'd throw a few tips here and there.. help me out when i needed someone strong to spot me.. or we'd go chatter on something interesting... unfortunately, his teasing comes at a time when i need to concentrate and focus... and he has this bad habit of bad-mouthing just about anyone in the gym.. some, behind their back.. others, in-you-face style.. get the picture?

now that i'm virtually unknown to anyone, i'm able to focus more.. keep the intensity high... i don't have a training partner but this i can tell you, my improvement these days are soooo much fiercer in terms of strength and mass... yet, i don't even have a training partner to spot or push me...

i met another former-gym-mate yesterday... he's the one being groomed to someday represent the gym in some competition.. trained no-less by the resident instructor, Gaga... he mentioned that the place is pretty tight these days... before i left there, things had started to get really really dense with gym-rats.. it's getting harder to breath...

unfortunately for this mate, he's still lookin' the same... same dude i saw a month ago..

i don't know about you but my friggin' shirts are getting tighter everyday... my shoulders are definitely wider.. so are my back.. my arms? oh, my arms.. being able to push and pull alternately with lesser distraction mentally and equipment-wise (read: less cramped) just keeps me going and going...

did i mentioned that Rey's still stuck with that darn 200 pounds bench press? saw him last week being spotted yet again... i might've been using dumbbells, but i'm courting 85 pounds/piece with my bench... it's so much harder to use dumbbells with those weight than barbell.. and FYI, i already 'conquered' that cute 200 pounds bench press before..

in effect, the move greatly improved me, notwithstanding the fact that i don't have any 'friend' or 'friends' to spot me.. while i have all the help in the old gym, still i got stuck in the rut cos the equipments are limited and it's hard to use 'em since a lot of wannabes sit on them like there's no tomorrow..

hence, intensity rules!

DOMS

yeah... i'm having one right now.. y'know, DOMS - Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness..

i went hard with my arm workout last saturday. alternating between biceps and triceps.. non-stop.

but not after kicking everything up with squats (front and back) and deadlift.. this pretty much jumpstarts the lactic acid build up of my body and primes up my arms for the non-stop circuitous, back-to-back, hardcore, whatchamacallit workout..

already, today is the second day of my 'supposed' rest, yet i'm still feeling a wee bit sore on my arms.. what's more, i had a good body massage hours after bangin' those irons.. so, being still sore, i've pretty much went overboard again.. as usual.

i'm still wanting... hee hee!

t'was nice to get a massage again after a long a while... budget constrains had bugged me for eons now.. i can only afford to go sneaky-sneaky if i can..

anyhoo, i'd go sleep early today... i need to recover fast so i can again rise to the challenge ahead.. tomorrow.

Kimbo got sliced!

14 seconds?

whatta an upset!



Kimbo Slice Vs. Seth Petruzelli

exit light

hhmmmm... there'd been an unprecedented mass exodus of key employees since the last few months in the company i work with... i'm pretty used to people coming and going here.. it had been the trend since time immemorial... managers quit, rank and file employees quit... damn, even the lowly technicians quit!

the job which is supposed to be mine had i not declined already had 20 employees and counting sit on it only to quit after a few months... damn, my boss says "it's supposed to be a career move" on my part, but i figured, shet, there's no friggin' way i'm gonna sit my ass the entire day in the office --- boiling room style!

well, they can have it.. i'm here for the fun.. earn a living enough to feed my family, have a li'l fun along the way and maybe enjoy my job.. not stress my brains out!

i've been trying to evaluate myself... y'know, do i have the balls to be, uhum, a leader?? nope... sorry.. i don't want the stress.. the headache.. yeah, just lemme go kick somebody's ass if i have to, but don't, never.. ever.. make me lead.

i'm a good soldier... that, i'm proud of... i obey.. i follow.. barely complains..

look at those leaders we're having right now... Bush, McCain, Obama, Arroyo... damn, even Bin Laden isn't having fun right now... those militant leaders getting jailed or killed.. yeah, yeah... it's better to die for something than die for nothing..

whatever.

anyhoo, Godspeed to all who've come... and go.. may you find greener pasture out there...

i gotta go hit the road..

chill.

Shake It

whew!!!

that was HARD!

this is madness, man... but i like it and i want MORE!!

so, i took a break yesterday since my shoulders were pretty sore... came back today and my golly, i was just waxin' hot... thanks to that hand grip i recently bought, some veins in my forearm are ready to break out.. but they still fatigue rather quickly...

got a new friend named Romeo.. actually, we've been casual friend since i started last month.. right now, this dude is my "idol." he's about 5'1", muscular and he just ate those darn 120 pound dumbbells --- easily.

friggin' strong, hommie!

i know he's "ON" to something (read: steroids). i saw him a few months back competing.. the dude look awesome that time.. ripped and dry.. right now he's a li'l off physique-wise, but he can go competition-ready in no time...

incidentally, he started working out in my previous gym.. him and Rey are "friends." only now he's so much better in terms of strength and mass... Rey's still stuck with those puny weights back in the old gym while this dude, he's just on a league of his own... yet he's not even loud like Rey who relishes on bashing everyone when they turn their back.. what can i say, some people, ey?

i just did incline barbell bench press earlier and it's just it.. i'm done doing those bench and incline bench press using barbell... they just friggin' hurt my !@#%$^& shoulders!!!



i'll just work around dumbbells, cables and machines... save for military press.. i'm fine doing it with barbells...



done ranting... now, watch!




if you want the Official Video, click THIS instead.... y'know, Official Videos these days cannot get embedded no more... tisk.. tisk..

eicosanoids

hhhmmmmm.. amazing.

it's only yesterday i realize that thing they call inflammation... y'know, inflamed muscles... ring a bell??



anyhoo, since it was a holiday yesterday, i trained like a mad man.. going wall-to-wall almost non-stop and whop my shoulders, biceps, triceps and abs to extinction... for hours, momma!

now, i had a brilliant idea before i went to wreck havoc in the gym.. that afterwards i'd hit the log instead of malling.. this is supposed to speed up recovery and growth... Neil wasn't with me, so, i don't see a point strolling around by my lonesome..

after i got home, went to devour a few boiled eggs.. then, as planned, went snoozin'..

boy, it's hard to sleep when you're over-fatigued, tell ya that! i just kept turning and turning.. luckily, i was able to nap in between...

after waking up, that was then i felt my shoulders being warm... it's kinda unusual.. i'm guessing it's the lactic acid build-up on the area that's makin' it warm.. since i bang it pretty good, it took a lot of time for the acid to flush-out of my system.. first time in my lifting years that i have to ice 'em to sorta cool 'em down... then, i have to shower to make sure i "extinguish the fire."

thus, today i'll rest... no lifting, no cardio... no nothing.

and i feel good!


***


meanwhile, earlier today, i went to visit my old gym... i was just outside walking in, and i was just smiling cheerfully... y'know, it's nice to see the 'boys in the hood' all over again... oh, the place had just been re-painted.. i'm ready to cry, mate!

a few re-arranging of stuffs here and there.. still looks the same... just pretty darn organized now that i'm gone!

man, i'm touched when they told me to "get your arse back in the gym already... c'mon, idol!"

Gaga, the chief instructor told me i'd regret it for quitting... Benito, the assistant was sayin' he'd find me another locker cos mine had already been taken.. Rey was skeptic... he said i could be pretending to be "off" the gym but actually lifting in another gym... but later said i'd be sorry for taking the time off...

told them i'd be back next year... geeezzz, sorry for lying guys.. i gotta keep this "moves" of mine low... as in, in all modesty...

anyway, i missed 'em all... big time!

but no regrets.

things are goin' great for me now... my numbers are UP if you catch my drift.. gotta keep moving forward... but i'll keep in touch with my former mates... that's a promise!

How do you do that?

seems my bro might finally buy me these stuffs:





well, i need 'em very badly.

the straps would help me grasp the bar even if my forearms are already toasted during super heavy sets... your lifts are just as good as your forearms can handle... when it's already fatigue, there ain't no way of adding more plates to the bar cos you can't hold on to the bar no more.. comprende?!

while the heavy grip should help me strengthen my forearm...

i was gonna give-up having them as my bro didn't advise me.. like for weeks!

'til yesterday.

he said he's ordering 'em this week.. hopefully...

i'll keep my fingers crossed for this one, though.

remember that night vision binocular i'm supposed to get? well, it never came... meaning, i don't wanna get burned waiting in vain ever again...



so much for promises, huh?

worst, i never even asked for it... someone was kind enough to sorta volunteer.. kept my hopes up... but zit.. zat.. nada...

tsk.. tsk..

so, lesson learned: keep your hopes up, but lower your expectation... how'd you suppose to do that? lemme know when you've figured it out..

cos i dunno neither.

Mr. Olympia 2008

the new Mr. Olympia, Dexter Jackson



thanks to the dude who shared this.. tho it's a little blurry, still better than none, eh?

avoirdupois

our manager whose on his "last days" as an employee cos he's resigning due to, uhm, lets just call it "unfair labor practice" on his part, invited me for a beer... i would've wanted to go drown some alcohol away with him and the rest of the "gang," but i was just "totalled" today...

i hit my quads, arms and abs earlier... so, right now, i'm just wasted... in a good way, that is..

i just feel totally exhilarated whenever i'm feelin' the "pump..." gym rats live for that, in case you dunno...

watching Dennis Wolf (feel free tou google or youtube him) train like an animal, just floored me down - good!!

doin' circuit training ain't for the weak heart, hommie... and it's best to have a partner.. the weights could go crashing on your teeth if you mess up due to too much exhaustion and, no one can assist you in moving the friggin' load.. lucky them.

good thing, Sir Doy was very cool with me not being able to accompany him on his "farewell tour." if i have to drink, i'd better be doing it at home where i could just crap wherever i feel like... besides, i feel the need to watch F1 cos it's the first time that they're racing at night! gotta be there for, duh, history, babe!

tired.. sleepy... and goin now...

Go Hamilton!

Go McLaren!

week in review

these tickled my fancy...

- China's milk - contaminated

- US Economy - down the shitters

- Motorcycle's indiscriminately towed all over the city

- Adminstrative Order "against" motorcycle... well, enthusiast ain't sayin' "hallelujah..." go figure!

- Formula 1 Night Racing in Singapore

- Virginity being auctioned... i'm broke, yo!

- Just passed the Nursing Board female student killed in Negros... military says she's an NPA rebel who engaged them to a gunfight... pity

- SRP seeing the light of day

there.

work it!

I Hate Lard

ola!

before i go miles away further, lemme thank my buddy, Earl, for helping me out last week... he really is my best pal.. he stood by me all throughout my *uhum* ordeal and deservingly so, a best man for a best friend to keep... my your tribe multiply, part!

***



i am declaring WAR...

a WAR against LARD!!!

GGrrrRRRRrr!!!!

i just saw a guy curling super heavy dumbbells earlier... this dude is, i dunno how to describe his body... he's fat, big, muscular... but if you're eyes ain't trained, you'd probably judge him as an obese man.. i haven't seen him squat or deadlift, but his leg press, hack squat and some rows are pretty decent.. unfortunately, for his height, his legs are waaaay too big! ever saw an electric post? it's something like that...

yeah, i lift to be strong too but not to the extent where i'd look like a ball if i roll over..LOL!

he just look so bloated all over.. he walks around like a duck cos his inner thigh keeps rubbing against each other.. that's quite a pain, tell ya that! even i, who don't have as huge legs as he have, yet i get the same amount of friction if i wear a mere boxer brief... gotta have those cycling undershort, hommie!

i dunno what's his goal, but i'd definitely not take that direction.. i'm even killing myself in the threadmill to lose lotsa lard.. right now, for a change, i really wanna look good nekked.. but i don't wanna lose any strength while on it.. in fact, just bought me a hand grip... obviously, to strengthen my grip when holding the bar or anything that requires a good amount of squeezing.. i wanna grow stronger in every department while losing lard along the way...

now, it's definitely hard work. it's good that our body is able to adapt to whatever stress we put it into.. i.e. changes of temperature/weather, being subjected to constant pain, your pain threshold increases... look at those MMA Fighters who can take whatever the opponent throws at them.. unless of course you get 'em right on the money, thus, knocking them out.. etc... etc...

unfortunately, it has its setbacks... your muscles won't grow when it's able to adapt to the same stress.. your weight won't go down when you hit plateau... that is, when it's used to the same weight for a period of time, it won't budge anymore unless you do something different or drastic.. that's why you see most people in the gym who look exactly the same since you saw them the first time.. save for a few who really wax it up wall-to-wall..

so now, i'm trying to up the ante with my cardio thingy and i will continue to so 'til i hit my target weight... wanna know?

secret.

K.I.T.T.

can't wait.

"We're It..."

this thoughts actually ran through my brain while we went through that mob attack last Sunday when only two policemen showed up... love that movie too!

"where's the rescue squad??"

read the title for your answer...




scenes from the movie Black Hawk Down.

pusillanimity

addendum to the last post below...

i failed to mention that, yeah, the pricks had a gun...

no matter how well trained you are in whatever field of physical combat if your opponent have gun/s, better run and hide, hommie!

we don't need no dead hero no more... plenty of 'em have gone to the other side..

capish?

***

it's been weeks now since i've noticed some bruises on my upper quad.. there are some red spots scattered in one area.. kinda freaky, mate!

anyway, there must be a logical explanation to it other than me having some creepy thoughts that some "white lady" in the house must've something to do with it.. remember that white lady in the rooftop hubbub goin' around the neighborhood?

nah, you're too lazy to read back and i'm too lazy to put labels... that should be fair for both of us now, huh?

damn!! damn!! damn!!

i'm sooooo slow!

finally figured it out yesterday.

why it's blacked and bruised? cos i friggin' catch the dumbbells on the way down using my upper quad (thigh) and the new gym's dumbbells don't have a smooth edge.. instead, a bolt actually concave dead center on the dumbbells outer rim.. not too big or sharp but enough to do some damage like what i'm having now.. so shet, ey??

here, lemme illustrate:



above is an overkill, though... but the one's in the gym had about an inch of bolt protruding on the edge...

however, i wouldn't mind one bit if that's how our dumbbells look like in the gym... that is, if Jamie Eason is in front of me..

The Element Of Surprise

"call up the police!!!"

a man shouted..



"ssshhhhhhh... keep you heads down..."



"turn off the lights.."



"lock the doors!!"



"anybody called the cops already?"



"be still... they might see you!"



"don't open the windows.."



"take off your clothes!"



i made up the last one... ha ha!

too serious, eh?

anyway, a mobile patrol car came with two cops on-board... we felt a li'l secured, alright.

but...

the darn stone still kept raining at the next house!! those sons of bitches ain't got no respect for policemen... they're ON to something.. and your guess is good as mine..

they were still shouting.. those fools want elmer out so maybe they could lynch him..

we still waited inside.. with only two policemen around, it's too risky to go out.. we're up against a rowdy mob here whose got nothing to lose..

good thing another mobile patrol arrived.. they really could use a back-up.. quite a number of policemen now.. some are carrying M16's.. good thinking hommies!

minutes later, things settled down.. those chicken-shit outside turn the table on elmer accusing him of being the one who possesses a gun when they were the ones who fired at us... a policeman came at the backdoor where we were holdin' up... but, instead of those bastards being pick-up and questioned, elmer took the brunt and was taken to the police station.. while he was escorted outside the house to the mobile car, the pricks kept yelling a him, and your guess is good as mine, they want his blood.

so off they went to the police station.. a few policemen were left and we took advantage of having them escort us to our vehicle.. good thing i parked the van a few meters away or it would have been smashed and wrecked too like elmer's motorcycle.. he happened to park it right outside the host's house.. and, he was there smoking, whiling away time and gave the dickheads outside a good idea he owns the bike..

finally, a lot people have gathered outside the place.. damn kibitzers! it was soooo hard to get out, but i thought, man, i gotta get out of here fast!

so, i muscled my way out and heaved a sigh of relief after arriving at the main road.. another ordeal down the drain.. thanks good Lord we made it in one piece!

why it's so scary?

fine...

ok, why it scared the shit out of me?

- it ain't our neighborhood

- we don't know those pricks

- they've got nothing to lose

- they are ON drugs, drunk and pissed for not getting invited, much less, given food

- we don't know whose with us or against us

- we were caught with our pants down.. surprise!


add all that up and we're pretty screwed... more reason not to loosely party around...

called 'em up later (wifey's relatives) for update, and boy, those assholes did quite a damage to their house.. except for elmer's battered head and bruised ego, everyone was safe.

after cleaning up the mess, they found three bullet slugs from what appeared to be a .357 gun.

end.

the aftermath

i'm bleeding... financially.. HELP!

yeah.

after last week's hullabaloo i've been talking about, it swept most of my hard-earned moola i'm now scrambling to pay my debts from credit cards and whatnot.

dayum!

sucks this way...

i hope to turn things around before i'd go kick my head to wall (is that even possible?)...

i will survive, however.

***

last night we went to a birthday party.. it was the birthay of the child of wifey's cousin... her niece, to be exact.

if you've been my fan, you'd know i'm not IN for parties. no, i'm not really snub or anything that resembles one, but it ain't just my forte... partying, crowded places, fiesta's and all that drama we've all grown to... so un-me, hommie.

anyway, after a shetload of constant prodding from wifey, i gave in and went ahead to a place i have yet to discover and people i've yet to meet..

everything went well except for my crumbling stomach because of a few delays in serving the food and drinks... oh, there was that loud videoke machine that wifey and her cousins took turn abusing... the "abusing" part didn't got me worried.. it's how close the neighborhood houses/apartments are and how loud they tuned it up.. anyhoo, i didn't bother to sing one song cos my throat seem harsh... it's always been like that..

after eating, we were served beers... nice.

a few more shots.. sips.. snort.. swig...

then...

BAM!!!

one of the visitor who was hanging outside the house had a 'misunderstanding' with some neighborhood toughie..

"no!! don't do it!!"

the toughie's companion shouted at elmer...

elmer, the visitor who scuffled with the group of addicts, punks, hoodlum and 'boys in the hood' took a chair so he could finish off the guy who smash a bottle of beer into his head and is now laying down the street after he punched his face... and maybe if he's lucky, he can use the chair to bash the mob who are trying to attack him..

unfortunately, he's no match to the rowdy people who wanted to kick his ass.. so he ran for cover.. we all ran for cover..

stones started raining like hell to the host's house... some guns were fired..

that was one helluva scary scene you'd only see in movies..

fortunately, the next door neighbor open their back door and allowed us in 'til the cops arrive..

we were there.. hiding.. kept quiet.. but the friggin' stones continued to rain over wifey's cousin's house..

(to be continued....)

hung over

t'was fun last night.. *yawn*

a bit.

whenever i hear some house music or anything with a nice beat into it, i'd usually feel nostalgic and missed hanging out in a bar... with many people dancing, gyrating and the likes..

but, when i'm in there, i kinda hate it.

i hate the smoke, those cheap, young chicks smokin' their lungs out and drinking extra strong beer like they are 'amongst men' when it comes beer bingin'... those horny guys.. you should watch them.. ha ha!



it's quite a mix.. some gays.. boys, girls.. and they are very good at picking their target.. a looker, usually.

i hate that we have to share a glass to pass around when we can just have our individual poison... so liberated yet so old school, ey?

i hate taking a piss when i'm inebriated.. i have to go through a bunch of drunks like me on my way to the C.R. then accidentally bump a few of them on my way out.. sorry my ass!!

now, the worst part of course is when i'd have one too many and going home safe, sound and early is next to impossible... what's more, the effing hang over to deal with the next day!

so there.. it's a love and hate thing.

last night was no different.. it's fun, yeah, but it's bum afterwards.. i was at my best behavior, i'm happy to report.. t'was all clean fun.. whatever that means to you.

anyway, though sluggish and felt sleepy today, i've managed to hit the gym and salvaged a few workout..

been hitting the threadmill after my lifts are done.. to sorta burn some nasty lard off.. and oh, the darn alcohol too!

gotta be sexy, baby..

i dunno.. i barely wore body-fitting shirt around the gym.. always those XL's and i can see how people look at me lift and wonder... if i ever look good nekked?? wahahaha!!!



even those lanky lookin' folks wear tank-tops "cause they've grown lotsa muscles doin' barbell curl.." yeah right!

i'm always cool wearing not-so-revealing shirts.. i don't need to go out like that to show-off..

but i wouldn't mind girls, ladies wear one like this:


















guess, to each his own?

what am i talking here???

i better hit the road...

later folks.

relief

i've done it... quite an ordeal, tell ya that.. i'll never ever do it again..

glad it's over.

***

meanwhile, i'd probably stuck at that darn 80 pounder dumbbell for a while... it'll take a good while before i could move up the weights again.. but i'm happy for making some progress.. usually, when i go to the gym, i'd have butterflies on my stomach.. especially when i enter that zone where i'm about to conquer another 'milestone' of a lift.. i mean that for me is the challenge that keeps me goin out for more..

meeting Lui for a beer in a moment.

chiao!

face off

it's almost time...

i'm not really ready....

but...

let's get this done and over with.

into the groove

whew! things are getting niftier in the gym.. those body-huggin'-top-tank lovin' boys are bunch of punks who needs a spotter for a tiny-little-puny-weight they're benching.. damn! you guys are a wuss.. pussy, to be exact!



so there... they've laid out their cards.. what i've notice with this 'boys in the hood' doin' frequently in the gym are bunch of isolation exercises, drop sets and a few supersets here and there.. no major compound exercises such as squat and deads.. alright, they'd do military press but on the smith machine and with a spotter at that, again!! see, they really are pussies, eh?

earlier, this short and scrawny dude kept gremacing while lifting and he never fails to grunt, drop the weights before and after lifting, abuse the machines by rapidly letting go of the handles thereby causing it to thud helplessly... hey hommie, you own that darn machine??



then another guy who works his legs, squats in the smith machine (boy, they just love abusing that poor thing) always pouts his face everytime.. darn, the wimp is just lifting about a quarter.. ok, maybe half of what i'm squatting, but i squat in the power rack, free from machine mambo-jumbo and i always go past parallel.. never half ass.. i almost burst into laughter watching him doin' leg press in that sissy nautilus machine and seeing how he seem to be in severe pain with the way his face looked... why sissy you ask? cos it's soooo safe to adjust the weight at the flick of a finger and you can't overload the darn thing cos everything is fixed at the machine.. whilst the hardcore version allows to load as much plates as your guts can wield and, make no mistake when executing the exercise cos if you screw your breathing or loads it more than you can handle, the weights will go down crumbling on you.. meaning to say, you screw up and you could end up dead..

can you spot the NOT?

there are still plenty of jokers out there... waiting to be discovered.. he he!

in fairness, there are a lot of hardcore just the same.. some startled me with the weights they're able to handle.. kinda freak show to watch, mate.



anyway, i'm happy with my progress right now.. i now know how to handle the weights better and control my breathing.. gotta keep the whole body safe from accidents and whatnot.. my 'toolbox' is filled with useful stuffs... and i'm not even done filling it up..

on the other hand, it's been a huge contrast with the way i deal with people around the gym.. while in the former i used to joke around and talk lotsa shit every now and then or in between sets, now it's all business.. most of my friends now are PT's (personal trainer) but the jokes and the chatters are at bare minimum.. while it's good cos i can focus more, the bum of course is when i can't pull anyone for help.. but hey, Henrik Ibsen says "The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone."

i'll keep that as my motivation... i gotta.

off to the mall.